Associate Director of Development for Corporate Relations

NEIU • Chicago, IL

3d

About The Position

The Associate Director of Development for Corporate Relations (AD) will serve as Northeastern Illinois University’s principal liaison to Chicago’s corporate community, building and leveraging strategic partnerships that advance the University’s mission and philanthropic goals. This role requires an individual who can authentically represent NEIU in diverse professional networks across the Chicago region, with particular emphasis on cultivating relationships within corporate, civic, and community leadership circles. The AD will identify, cultivate and steward corporate partnerships ranging from $1,000 to $25,000+, while developing long-term strategic alliances that extend beyond transactional sponsorships. The AD will also help to develop and enhance multichannel annual giving strategies, identifying new avenues for increasing donor participation and building monthly giving and mid-level donor engagement. Reporting to the Director of Development, the AD will collaborate across the Institutional Advancement team and University divisions to align corporate engagement with institutional priorities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
• Minimum of three years of progressive experience in corporate partnerships, fundraising, or business development, with demonstrated success securing corporate sponsorships.
• Proven ability to build professional relationships within business and civic communities.
• Experience navigating corporate decision-making structures and presenting compelling partnership proposals to business leaders.
• Proficiency with constituent relations management systems (Raiser’s Edge preferred).
• Strong persuasive writing and storytelling skills.
• Ability to travel throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree and/or professional certification (e.g., AFP, CFRE, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, or related).
• Experience with annual giving strategies including direct mail, digital campaigns, and event fundraising for institutions of higher education or nonprofit organizations.
• Established professional network within Chicago’s business and/or civic communities.
• Multilingual capabilities, particularly Spanish fluency.
• Experience working with diverse communities and mission-driven organizations.

Responsibilities

• Corporate Partnership Development Build and manage a portfolio of 30-50 corporate prospects and partners, stewarding relationships from identification through cultivation, solicitation, and recognition.
• Conduct 8-12 meaningful corporate partner meetings monthly, including discovery meetings, proposal presentations, and stewardship visits.
• Develop compelling partnership proposals that articulate mutual value and align corporate goals with University needs.
• Actively participate in Chicago business and civic organizations, serving as NEIU’s ambassador and identifying partnership opportunities aligned with institutional priorities.
• Research and qualify corporate prospects, analyzing giving capacity, philanthropic priorities, and alignment with NEIU’s mission.
• Collaborate with academic units and administrative departments to identify sponsorship opportunities for programs, events, scholarships, and initiatives.
• Annual Giving and Donor Engagement Support the Director of Development in creating multichannel annual giving strategies (direct mail, digital, monthly giving).
• Collaborate on fundraising campaigns and appeals.
• Assist in the analysis of engagement and strategy performance to show growth or need for adjustments.
• Partner with Manager of Communication and Stewardship on stewardship of corporate, monthly and mid-level donors.
• Strategic Planning and Collaboration Partner with the Director of Development to create annual corporate relations goals, strategies, and metrics aligned with institutional advancement priorities.
• Work collaboratively with Marketing and Communications to develop corporate-facing materials that effectively represent NEIU’s value proposition.
• Coordinate with Alumni Relations to leverage corporate alumni connections and create networking opportunities.
• Serve as liaison between corporate partners and University leadership, facilitating meaningful engagement opportunities.
• Provide analysis of corporate giving trends, partnership outcomes, and emerging opportunities.
• Stewardship and Relationship Management Design and implement comprehensive stewardship programs that demonstrate impact and sustain corporate partner engagement.
• Coordinate corporate recognition activities in collaboration with the Manager of Communications and Stewardship.
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of all corporate interactions in advancement database systems.
• Plan and execute corporate partner appreciation events and networking opportunities.
• Prepare regular reports on corporate relations activities, outcomes, and strategic recommendations for leadership and the NEIU Foundation Board.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Institutional Engagement and Governance Serve as a regular participant and contributor to the NEIU Foundation Board Development Committee, providing updates on corporate partnership activities and strategic recommendations.
• Participate in campaign planning and execution through steering committees and working groups as the University advances major fundraising initiatives.
• Engage with shared governance bodies including the Faculty Council on Institutional Advancement and other appropriate committees to build internal awareness of corporate partnership opportunities and foster cross-campus collaboration.
• Represent Development in cross-functional university meetings and planning sessions to ensure alignment between corporate relations strategies and institutional priorities.

Benefits

• University employees may be eligible for a variety of State of Illinois benefits.
• These benefits are administered through the Illinois Department of Central Management Service (CMS).
• Please visit our Employee Benefits page to learn more about our comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision benefits, sick and vacation days, and participation in the State Universities Retirement System.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level